Automatic looping machine



J. MATTHEWS ETAL AUTOMATIC LOOPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1963 10 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 1

INVENTOR5 John Matthews y 1965 J. MATTHEWS ETAL 3,252,725

AUTOMATIC LOOPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1963 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS FIG-3 John Matthews Cosmo Iacovuzzi A ORNEY y 1966 J. MATTHEWS ETAL 3,252,725

AUTOMATIC LOOPING MACHINE 1O Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 18, 1963 Q Q T INVENTORS dwhn Mmthews C smo Emcovazza 10 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTOR5 John Matthews Cosmo Iucovazzi AT'T NEY J. MATTHEWS ETAL AUTOMATIC LOOPING MACHINE whm 0mm NwN May 24, 1966 Filed Sept. 18, 1965 y 24, 1966 J. MATTHEWS ETAL 3,252,725

AUTOMATIC LOOPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1963 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 I30 I26 '28 I34 I Hg I42 I46 & 144

INVENTORS John Monhews Cosmo Iucqvozzi I ORNEY y 1966 J. MATTHEWS ETAL 3,252,725

AUTOMATIC LOOPING MACHINE 1O Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 18, 1963 INVENTORC John Matthews Cosmo Iucovuzzi ATT NEY y 1966 J. MATTHEWS ETAL 3,252,725

AUTOMATIC LOOPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1963 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR5 m John Matthews N k Cosmo Iucoyazzi j BY 7 ZWWA v .1. 15 7 MB,

y 24, 1966 .1. MATTHEWS ETAL 3,252,725

AUTOMATI C LOOPING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Sept. 18, 1963 v All til INVENTORS John Matthews Cosmo Iucovuzzi y 24, 1966 J. MATTHEWS ETAL 3,252,725

AUTOMATIC LOOPING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Sept. 18, 1965 uomuucu non-ES uucoao 23w E2020 m E mom wc uuz m aooJ $2.340 mmmo Now i mumEmhm mmzzEm :0 3S mmmo 0mm a 2001 mmLO INVENTORS United States Patent 3,252,725 AUTOMATIC LOOPING MACHINE John Matthews, Clarks Green, and Cosmo Iacovazzi, Scranton, Pa., assignors to Stitch, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 309,734 19 Claims. (Cl. 28918) The invention resides in a method of attaching loops of thread or other filament to material such as a garment, and in a machine to operate automatically to fasten the loops to the material.

The principal objects of the invention are the steps of fastening a loop of filament to material such as fabric by passing portions of the filament which form the end portions of the loop through the material at spaced points and forming knots in said end portions to attach the loop, and the machine which operates automatically to fasten the loop. Another object of the invention is the provision of a knot-forming mechanism, which quickly and simply forms a knot in a thread automatically. Other secondary objects will become apparent from the detailed description of the mechanisms, which as an incident of the machine operations, draw and retain the filament, retract the filament, and also guide the filament during machine operations.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the looping machine on line 11 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the looping machine.

FIG. 2A is a detail view in elevation of a part of the machine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the machine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the front part of the machine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section on line 55 of FIG. 2, showing the operating mechanism in top plan view.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are detailed views on lines 6-6 and 7-7, respectively, of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a section on line 88 of FIG. 5, showing part of the operating mechanism in elevation.

FIG. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of FIG. 5, showing another part of the operating mechanism in elevation.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a part of the knot-forming mechanism or spinner.

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the spinner on line 11-11 of FIG. 10. V

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the spinner in opera tion.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of one thread-retaining mechanism or hook element.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of the thread-retaining mechanism or hook element of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a second thread-retaining mechanism or hook element.

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of the second thread-retaining mechanism or hook element of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a vertical section on line 1717 of FIG. 16.

FIGS. 18 to 23 show the knot-forming mechanism or spinner in different operating positions in relation to other machine elements.

FIG. 24 is a detail view of the needle in operation.

FIG. 25 is a perspective of a modified form of knotfortming mechanism or a spinner.

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of the spinner of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a vertical section on line 27-27 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a section on line 2828 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 is a section through fabric showing the loop attached thereto.

FIG. 30 is a chart illustrating the program of machine operations, showing the steps of operation of the mechanisms in the machine cycle.

3,252,725 Patented May 24, 1966 The machine illustrated as the embodiment of the invention consists of a frame A on which is mounted a material holder B, a filament or thread-engaging means such as needle mechanism C, a knot-forming mechanism D, and thread-retaining means such as hook mechanisms E, E. The material holder is mounted to be movable relative to the needle mechanism C, so that the needle mechanism and material may be moved relatively to locate the needle in different positions on the material for the purpose of forming a loop of filament fixed to the material. Operating mechanism comprising a program device or set of cams F, controls the cyclical operation of the mechanisms, the motor G providing the motive power. The program device controls operation of the elements through a programmed cycle so that the parts cooperate to pass a free end of the filament T through the material M, form a knot in the filament, move the material and needle mechanism C relatively to provide a length of filament for a loop, and then pass the filament through the material in a second position to form the loop, the knot-forming mechanism D forming a second knot in the filament (see FIG. 29).

The frame A is formed with a top plate 1, carrying an integral supporting structure consisting of a pair of longitudinal, vertical walls 2, 2 and integral support members 4, 6 at the front and rear, and cross members 8, 10 intermediate the ends. The carriage B has a plate 12 movable on top plate 1 between walls 2, 2, a plate 14 fixed to plate 12 and slidable on bearings in the top plate 1, providing a surface to receive material clamped thereon. At the rear of the carriage, a vertical support 18 is fixed to the plate 12. A pair of rods 20, 20 passing through and fixed to the vertical support 18 extend between the walls 2, 2 and are slidable in bushings in the fixed rear support member 6 and cross members 8, 10.

These rods 20, 20 are connected at their forward ends by a guide member 22 in which is slidable a support element 24 for the clamping foot or material clamp 40. The element 24 consists of a rod 28 slidable in guide 22 and having a cylindrical cavity in its lower end receiving the spring 30. A stud 32 carrying the foot 40 is also slidable in said guide and into said cavity in engagement with said spring. A pin 34 and collar 36 retain the stud 32 in the guide. The clamping foot 40 extends forwardly from the guide member 22 with a slot 42 almost to the forward end. At that end a spring 44 is provided in a cylindrical recess in the lower side, and a small clamping head 46 is resiliently mounted in said recess by a stud 48 extending upwardly through the spring and bottom wall of the recess, with a retaining element at its upper end. At the rear end of the clamping foot 40, a pin 47 extends upwardly into a recess 47 in the guide member 22 to prevent angular movement of the clamping foot.

A lever 50 pivoted at 52 on rods 20, 20, moves the support element 24 downwardly to depress the foot 40 and clamp the material against the extension 14 on plate 12. A rod 54, when raised against spring action of spring 56, pivots the lever 50, a bearing 58 on the lower end of rod 54 riding on plate 1 when the carriage moves rearwardly, thereby maintaining the foot 40 in clamping position.

The carriage is moved from its forward position as shown to its rearward position by a spring 60 carried by rod 62 and supported in a cross member 64 integral with walls 2, 2. The spring engages in a recess in support 18 to move the carriage rearwardly.

An adjustable stop 66 limits rearward movement of the carriage. The stop is on sleeve 68 slidable in the fixed support 6 which is moved forwardly and rearwardly by a rod 70 threaded into the sleeve and rotatable by knob 72 fixed on its opposite end. A spring-pressed detent 7 4 selectively engageable in recesses in plate '76 maintains the rod 70 and stop 66 in adjusted position. Fixed to stop 66, a transverse rod 78, slidable in slots 80 in walls 2, 2, carries an indicator 82, movable along scale 84 on a wall 2 to indicate the set-ting of the stop and the amount of movement of carriage 12.

The needle mechanism C consists of a rod 90 having a needle holder 92 with a needle 94 in its lower end. The needle is flattened as at 95 (FIG. 24). A lever 96 pivot- :ably mounted at 98 on walls 2, 2, is moved up and down by rod 100 having a bearing 101 on its lower end and slidable in the rear fixed support 6. The rod is held downward, or in needle-raised position, by spring 102. The needle when lowered to pass through material on plate 1 and slot 42 also passes through an opening in said plate, carrying the thread with it. The needle passes close to the rear end of slot 42, so that the foot 40 will hold it against movement rearwardly.

Fixed in the opening or below the material is a rectangular wire guide member 104 which comprises a transverse guide to act as a thread guide rearwa-rdly of the path of needle travel. Spaced below this guide member is another wire guide member 106, shown in FIGS. and 18 to 23, which also acts as a thread guide, as explained later.

The knot-forming mechanism D is located on the frame A under top plate 1, the main element being the rotating member 108 positioned with its vertical axis slightly forward of the path of the needle. This rotating member or spinner comprises a main body having a shaft 110 mounted in bushings in a block 112 secured to the bottom plate 3 of frame A. A gear 114 is carried by the shaft, and a split ring 116 retains the shaft in place.

The upper part of the member 108, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, has a radial projection or beak 116, which engages the thread between guides 104 and 106 (FIG. 22) during the rotation. The upper surface of member 108 is rounded, as at 118, so that the thread engaged by the beak during rotation will slide off the rounded surface 118 and wrap around the beak 116 (FIG. 12). A shoulder 120 formed on the spinner 108 slidably supports reciprocable member 122, which has a central slot through which the member 108 passes. The member 122 carries an upright thread-engaging element or stripper 124, which overlies and closely fits the beak 116. A spring 126 supported in the recess 128 and stud 130 on member 122 maintain the stripper on the beak 116. A bearing member 132 on the end of the reciprocable member 122 may be engaged to move the member 122 and the stripper 124 along and off the beak 116.

The upper part of the spinner 108 also has a vertical groove 134 in which is pivoted member 136 on a transverse axis at 138, the member 136 having a radial projection or lower jaw 140 complemental to and fitting against the underside of beak or upper jaw 116. A spring 142 maintains the pivoted projection or lower jaw against the beak or upper jaw 116, and a bearing member 144 carried on a projection 146 provides for pivoting the memher 136 and opening the two jaw members.

The thread-engaging and retaining means E comprises a rod 150 slidably mounted on the frame A. At the forward end, rod 150 carries a short rod 152 having a fiat hook 154 fixed on its end. A sleeve or sheath 156 is slidably mounted on the rod 152 and hook 154. This sheath encircles the rod 152, and is formed with two integral fiat plates 158, 158', on opposite sides of the hook and closing the hook in the forward position. A pin 160 between the plates fastens them together at the outer end. This sheath at its rear end has an integral shoulder 162, and a spring 164 between the sleeve or sheath 156 and end of the rod 150 projects the sheath to close the hook, the pin 165 in slot 165 acting as a stop to limit movement of the sheath. The upper plate 158' has a knife or cutting edge 166 to sever the thread when the sheath moves to close the hook. A bracket or stop 170 fixed to the top plate 1 on frame A lies forwardly of the shoulder 162 on the sleeve 156, as seen in FIG. 3,

so that when the rod is moved forwardly, the shoulder 162 engaging the stop 170 will retract the sheath relatively to the hook which moves forward to engage the thread on the needle 94 (FIG. 24)

The retainer mechanism or hook E is composed of similar elements. The rod 150 has a short rod 152 carrying hook 154 and a sheath 156 slidably mounted on rod 152. This sheath has a plate 158 on the upper side of hook 154 and a plate 158" with a cutting edge 166 on the lower side. The retainer mechanism E has a latch 172 to hold the hook open after engaging the thread, the latch being pivotably mounted on rod 150 at 174. A spring 176 causes the latch 172 to engage shoulder 162 when sheath 156 is retracted. An adjustable stud 178 fixed on frame A is positioned to engage the tail of latch 172 at the end of the rearward travel of rod 150', thereby closing the hook to grip and sever the thread after the hook has retracted sufiicient thread to form a knot. The pin limits movement of sleeve 156 by spring 164 beyond hook closing position.

The filament or thread T for forming the loops is carried on a supply holder 200, passes through a thread clamp 202, an eye 210 on end of thread-retracting lever 212, eyes 214, 216 on fixed support 4, and through the eye of the needle 94. The thread clamp 202 is formed of two spring-pressed disks 204 which may clamp the thread between them or may be released by pressing on pin 206 to separate the disks. The thread-retracting lever 212 is pivoted on one wall 2 at 218 and carries a cam 220 on its forward end which may engage the pin 206 and release the thread clamp 202. A vertical rod 222 connected to the rear end of lever 212 passes through a spring casing 224 fixed to the frame of the machine. A spring 226 in said casing engages a shoulder on the rod to maintain it in its lowered position, with the forward end of the lever 212 raised and cam 220 in engagement with the thread clamp 202. A bearing 228 on the lower end of rod 222 may be engaged to raise the rod and lower the forward end of the lever 212, thereby clamping the thread or filament in thread clamp 202 and drawing the thread back through the needle 94.

The various mechanisms described are operated through a machine cycle in such manner as to form a belt loop of thread T automatically with its ends fastened to a garment or other material M, as shown in FIG. 29, the operation being under control of a motor-driven program device F which activates the several mechanisms in correct sequence, the program device F comprising a set of cams mounted on a shaft driven by motor G.

A manual switch 230 on the machine frame in the supply line 232 to the motor G, energizes the motor. The clutch 234 when engaged connects the motor G to shaft 236, which also drives through gears a transverse shaft 238 and the cam shaft 240, carrying the cams operating the several mechanisms in sequence. The clutch is engaged by operation of a treadle 242 through cable 244 to clutch-operating lever 246 pivoted on the frame at 248. The opposite end of the lever 246 has a cam follower 250 seated in a recess in cam 252, so that when the lever is activated to engage the clutch, the cam maintains the lever in clutch-engaging position for one revolution, or a complete cycle of the machine.

The drive shaft 236 carries a gear 254 on its forward end in engagement with gear 114 on the shaft 110 of spinner 108, so that the spinner rotates continuously as long as the clutch is engaged. This spinner completes eight revolutions during one cycle, as may be seen on the Timing Diagram or program chart 260 in FIG. 30, and the operation of the other mechanisms are related to the operation of the spinner or knot-forming mechanism. This chart is drawn to a scale based on the eight revolutions of the spinner, divided into one-quarter intervals.

To clamp the material M to the plate 14 on the carriage by clamp foot 40, the cam 262 moves rod 264 longitudinally as soon as the machine is started (see chart), so that the inclined cam 266 on the end of the rod engages the bearing member 268 and raises member 270. The memher 270 is slidable in the vertical guide 272 opening through the top plate 1, and raises bearing member 58 and rod 54 to the level of the top plate 1, so that the bearing member 58 may ride on said plate when the carriage moves rearwardly. A spring 2.74 holds the rod 264 in engagement with the cam.

The needle mechanism is operated by cam 276, which moves rod 278 longitudinally so that cam 280 engages the bearing 101 to raise the rod 100 and pivot lever 96 to lower needle 94. The spring 282 maintains the rod in contact with the cam. As shown in the chart, the cam 276 lowers the needle twice during one cycle, at the beginning of the first revolution of the spinner and at the beginning of the fourth revolution. Following each downward movement, the needle is raised slightly and held stationary in a dwell on the cam, as in FIG. 24, and then raised above the material clamped in the machine, but with its end in slot 42 in foot 40.

The thread retaining mechanism E is operated when the needle moves down during the first revolution by cam 284 which rotates lever 286 and projects rod 150 forwardly. Movement of rod 150 causes the shoulder 162 to engage stop 170 on the frame, thus projecting hook 154 to engage a loop of thread T at the fiat side of needle 94 (FIG. 24). The cam next retracts rod 150, so that the hook is closed and the thread gripped between the hook and sheath plate 158, the cutting edge 166 severing the excess free end. As the thread is retracted, the needle is supported against the pull of the thread by the rear portion of slot 42 in foot 40. Upon complete retraction of rod 150, the cam returns the rod in timed relation to rotation of the spinner, to feed the thread to the spinner as it is wound on the beak.

The knot-forming mechanism, including the spinner D, must be operated to form the knot after the thread is wound on projection or beak 116. The spinner, rotating counter-clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 10, moves the beak past the path of the needle 94 before the needle descends to that extent and, on the next two revolutions, winds the thread about its beak 116. The cam 290 moves rod 292 longitudinally against the force of spring 293, with the cam 294 on the end of rod 292 projecting rod 296 forwardly against the resistance of spring 298. The forward end of rod 296 carries two cams fixed to it, the lower cam 302 to engage the bearing member 144 on pivoted member 136 on the upper part of the spinner 108 to open the lower jaw, and the other cam 300 to engage bearing member 132 on reciprocable member 122 to operate the stripper and slide the thread off the beak 116 to form the knot.

On completion of the knot in the thread or filament to secure the first end portion of the loop to the material in the first position, the carriage is moved rearwardly by spring 60 to produce relative movement between the needle mechanism C and the material or garment, thus drawing a length of thread or filament from the supply to form the loop and positioning the needle 94 above a second point on the material so that the other end portion of the loop may be fastened. The cam 304 provides for rotation of lever 306 which is connected to the support 18 on the carriage at 308 by the pin 310. The pin 310, fixed to support 18, projects downwardly through a slot 312 in the top plate 1, the screw 308 connecting the lever to the pin. At the end of the first half cycle, spring 60 moves the carriage rearwardly to contact adjustable stop 66, the cam allowing lever 306 to rotate. This cam at the end of the cycle rotates the lever 306 clockwise (FIG. 5), to return the carriage to forward position.

After movement of the carriage rearwardly to the second position, the cycle of the needle mechanism C and the knot-forming mechanism D is repeated as in the first half of the machine cycle. In the second half, the other thread-retaining means E is activated by cam 314. This cam rotates lever 316 to project rod forwardly, so that its shoulder 162 engages stop 170, and the hook is opened to engage the loop of thread on the needle and pull the thread from the supply as the rod 150 moves rearwardly. Latch 172 engages shoulder 162 to hold the hook open until it engages stop 178 at the end of its rearward movement, when the latch is released and the sheath plate 158 grips the thread and the edge 166 severs the thread to the needle. The cam 314 now moves the rod 150' forwardly, as the knot-forming mechanism forms the knot, in the same manner as in the first half cycle.

The thread-retracting mechanism is operated by cam 318 which projects rod 320 against the resistance of spring 322. A cam 324 on the end of rod 320 raises rod 222 and pivots thread-retracting lever 212 to clamp the thread in clamp 202 and retract the excess thread through needle 94, leaving the end of the thread in the needle.

Supports for the operating rods and levers are provided on frame A, two examples being shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The support 326 is provided with bushings for the shaft 238 and several rods as shown. The lever 306 is pivoted on the top of support 326. Rods 264 and 292 pass through the support 328, bushings in the support forming bearings for the rods. A modified form of knot-forming mechanism or spinner F is shown in FIGS. 25-28. is mounted to be driven through gear 332, as in the form first described. On this body, a frame 334 is mounted to slide horizontally, the spring 336 maintaining it to one side of the body as shown in FIG. 27. A hearing member 338 on one end may be engaged by the cam 300 to move the frame against the force of the springs. An element 340 mounted on the frame extends upwardly and at the top is provided with a radial projection or jaw 342. Pivoted .in a channel in element 340 is member 344, also having a radial projection 346 complementary to projection 342, the two together forming jaws of a beak which may open and close on pivoting of member 344. Spring 348 mounted in frame 334 engages pivoted member 344 to maintain jaws 342 and 346 in closed position. A hearing member 350 mounted on the tail of pivoted member 344 may be engaged by cam 302 to open jaws 342 and 346. The frame 334 also carries a vertical plate or stripper 352 against which the elements 340 abuts, this plate having a slot 354 through which jaws 342 and 346 may project while allowing pivoting movement of jaw 346. The upper surface of element 340 is rounded at 356 as shown in the drawings, and the jaws are positioned in the slot 354 of plate or stripper 352.

The spinner F operates substantially the same as spinner F, except that the projection or beak carrying the thread wound thereon moves horizontally while the stripper 352 remains stationary against horizontal movement. The jaw 346 pivots on engagement of bearing 350 with cam 302 to open the jaws and after the thread has been gripped by the jaws, the bearing 338, 180 later, engages cam 300 and the element 340 with jaws 342 and 346 are moved relative to the slot 354 and stripper 352, so that the thread is stripped from the jaws and the knot formed. The jaws then open slightly to release the thread.

Operation The operator sets stop 66 to the length of loop to be formed, as shown on scale '84, turns on the switch 230 to start the motor G, places the garment or other material under the foot 40 on plate 14 in proper position, and then depresses treadle 242 to engage clutch 234 and start the machine cycle. Immediately, cam 252 starts rotation and maintains the clutch engaged for one revolution of camshaft 240. The spinner 128 of knot-forming mechanism D also starts to rotate.

The several cams of the set of cams or program device F now act to produce the sequence of operations of the machine. C-am 262 depresses foot 40 to hold the material on the carriage B throughout the cycle. Cam

The rotating body 330 276 moves needle 94 down through the material, the beak 116 of the spinner 108 moving past the needle position before the needle descends below the top plate 1. The thread retainer or hook is moved forward on rod 150 by cam 284. As shown in the chart 260 (FIG. 30), the needle reaches its lowest point and starts to rise, where at three-quarters revolutions, the cam has a dwell and the needle is stationary. A loop is thus formed in the thread along the fiat side of the needle (FIG. 24) and the hook 154 has moved past thread or filament (FIGS. 20, 21). As the hook moves back with the thread, the plate 158 of the sheath grips the thread on the hook and the cutting edge 166 severs the free end. At one revolution, the book has drawn the thread back to its rearward position, the thread passing down over the wire guides 104 and 106, and the beak 116, with closed jaws, is about to engage the vertical thread between the guides.

As the spinner starts to wind the thread on the beak (FIGS. 22, 23), the rod 150 with hook 154 is moved toward the spinner 108 by the cam 284 to feed the thread for the knot. The thread is thus Wound on the beak, the rounded surface 108 allowing the thread to slide onto the beak 116. After the closed beak has engaged the thread a second time after the second revolution, cam 290 moves the cams 300, 302 forwardly so that before the third revolution, the cam 302 opens the jaw 140, and the lower jaw passes below the guide 106 and the thread is looped around the upper jaw. As the spinner rotates, the cam 302 is cleared and at 3 A revolutions the jaw closes to grip the thread, at which time the hook 154, on engagement of shoulder 162 with stop 170, releases the thread. At 3%; revolutions, the cam 300 engages reciprocable member 122 and moves the stripper 124 over the beak to move the thread loop 011 the beak about 3% revolutions and form the knot, the jaws opening slightly at 3% revolutions to release the knot.

After the stripper moves the loop 01f the beak to form the knot, the cam 304 releases lever 306 so that spring 60 moves the carriage rearwardly against the stop 66, drawing the thread from the supply to form the loop and positioning the material under the needle in the new position. The second half of the cycle now commences in a similar manner, except that the thread-retaining mechanism E is now operated. As the needle descends, the rod 150' is moved forward by cam 314, the shoulder 162 engaging stop 170 and the latch 172 holding the sheath 156 in hook-open position. The hook now draws the thread back to its rearward position, where the latch is released by stud 178 and the thread to the needle is cut off. The thread is now gripped and fed to the spinner in the same manner as in forming the first knot.

The excess thread from the needle is retracted by the thread-retracting mechanism. Cam 318 operates lever 212 clockwise (FIG. 4) to remove the cam 220 from pin 206 and allow the thread clamp 202 to grip the thread. At the same time, downward movement of the end of lever 212 will draw the thread from the needle through eyes 214 and 216, thereby retracting the thread through the needle, leaving the end in the eye. The lever then moves back to its original position, the thread now being available for the next machine operation.

At the end of one cycle, as the knot is formed, cam 304 operates the level 306 to return the carriage to its forward position, and cam 262 raises the foot clamp 40 to release the material. The follower 250 on level 246 then rides intto the recess 252 to disengage clutch 234 and stop the machine operation.

While one embodiment of the invention with modifications has been described, it will be obv ous that many other embodiments may be developed within the scope of the invention without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A machine for attaching a loop of a filament to material by passing portions of a filament constituting the end portions of said loop through said material comprising means for passing a first portion of said filament constituting the first end portion of said loop through said material at a first point and a second portion of said filament constituting the second end portion of said loop through said material at a second point spaced the length of said loop from said first point, retaining means to retain said portions after passing through said material, and knot forming means to form a first knot in said first end portion adjacent said first point and a second knot in said second end portion spaced from said first knot and adjacent said second point.

2. A machine for attaching a loop of a filament to material by passing portions of a filament constituting the end portions of said loop through said material comprising a program device for controlling operations of the machine during a machine cycle, means for passing a first portion of said filament constituting the first end portion of said loop through said material at a first point and a second portion of said filament constituting the second end portion of said loop through said material at a second point spaced the length of said loop from said first point, retaining means to retain said portions after passing through said material, and knot forming means to form a first knot in said first end portion adjacent said first point and a second knot in said second end portion spaced from said first knot and adjacent said second point, said program device actuating said means sequentially to form said loop and discontinuing operation of the machine at the conclusion of the cycle.

3. A machine for attaching a loop of a filament to material by passing portions of a filament constituting the end portions of said loop through said material com- Y prising a filament carrying mechanism including a filament supply and a needle to pass a portion of said filament through said material, means to form a first knot in a first end portion of said filament after passage through said material by said needle, said filament from said supply forming said loop on movement of said material to a second position after formation of said knot in said first end portion, means to draw said filament through said material after formation of said first knot and sever said filament beyond the second end portion after passage through said material at said second position, said knot forming mechanism operating to form a second knot in said second end portion spaced from said first knot.

4. A machine for attaching a loop of a filament to material by passing portions of a filament constituting the end portions of said loop through said material comprising means for passing a free end portion of said filament through said material at a first position and a second portion of said filament constituting the opposite end portion of said loop through said material in a second position spaced the length of said loop from said first position, first retaining means to engage and grip the free end portion of said filament after passing through said material, second retaining means to engage said second portion of said filament after passage through said material, cutting means to sever said filament beyond said second portion, and knot forming means to form a first knot in said free end portion after passing through said material and a second knot in said opposite end portion spaced from said first knot after passing through said material in said second position.

5. A machine for attaching a loop of a filament to material by passing portions of a filament constituting end portions of said loop through said material at spaced points comprising filament engaging means for passing a portion of said filament through said material, knot forming means to form a knot in said portion of said filament after passage through said material, material sup porting means to support said material for passage of said filament by said filament engaging means, said material supporting means and said filament engagingmeans being relatively movable between two positions spaced the length of said loop, whereby after passage of said filament through said material and formation of a knot in an end portion of said filament in one position, said filament engaging means and said material supporting means may be moved relatively to each other to said second position to form said loop and a portion of said filament constituting the second end portion of said loop may be passed through said material and a knot formed in said second end portion to secure said loop to said material.

6. A machine for attaching a loop of a filament to material by passing portions of a filament constituting end portions of said loop through said material at spaced points comprising filament engaging means to pass said portions of said filament through said material, means to produce relative movement between said filament engaging means and said material to change the location of said filament engaging means from a first point on said material to a second point spaced from said first point a distance equal to the length of said loop, operating means to operate said filament engaging means to pass a first portion of said filament constituting one end portion of said loop through said material at said first point and to pass another portion of said filament constituting the other end portion of said loop through said material at said second point after said change of location, and knot forming means to form a knot in each end portion after passage through said material.

7. A machine for attaching a loop of a filament to material by passing portions of a filament constituting the end portions of said loop through said material comprising a needle carrying said filament for passing through said material, means to form a knot in said filament after passage through said material by said needle, means for moving said needle and material relative to each other so that said needle will occupy a second position on said material after formation of said knot and the filament between the two positions will form a loop, said means to form a knot operating to form a knot after passage of said needle in said second position, and means to sever said filament to provide a free end for formation of said knot after passage through said material in said second position.

8. A machine for attaching a loop of a filament to material by passing portions of a filament constituting end portions of said loop through said material at spaced points comprising a needle carrying said filament for passage through said material, knot forming means to form a knot in an end portion of said filament after passage through said material, means for moving said material from a first position to a second position a distance equal to the length of said loop, and program means to operate said needle and knot forming means in said first position to secure an end portion of said filament to said material, to operate said means for moving said material to said second position to form the loop, and to operate said needle and knot forming means in said second position, to secure the other end portion, and means to sever said filament after passage through said material in said second position, so that said filament forms a loop secured to said material by a knot in each end of the loop.

9. A machine as in claim 8', in which means is provided to retract the free end of excess filament after said filament is severed, and said program device operates said means to retract the filament.

10. A machine for attaching a loop of a filament to material by passing portions of a filament constituting the end portions of said loop through said material comprising .a filament carrying mechanism including a filament supply and a needle for passing said filament through material, a material support movable between a first and a second position and including means to clamp material on said support, a first filament retaining means movable to a position adjacent the path of movement of said needle to engage a filament on said needle and withdraw said filament from said supply, a second filament retaining means movable to a position adjacent the path of movement of said needle to engage a filament on said needle and withdraw said filament from said supply, and having cutting means to sever said filament to the supply, a pair of guides spaced along and adjacent the path of needle travel to guide said filament from said needle when withdrawn by said retaining means, knot forming mechanism including a rotating element having a radial projection movable between said guides on rotation of said element to engage said filament and wind said filament on said projection, said projection having a pair of jaws which may open so the movable jaw does not pass between said guides and when closed grips said filament, a filament retracting means to retract the excess filament from said supply after said filament is severed by said cutting means, and a cyclically driven program device having operating means to operate in timed relation said means to clamp said material, means to operate said needle to pass through said material and dwell slightly on return movement, thereby forming a loop in said filament on said needle, means to operate said first retaining means to withdraw and retain said filament, engage said loop on said needle and to return said filament as said knot forming mechanism rotates and form a knot in said filament, means to move said material support from a first to a second position to withdraw filament from said supply to form a loop, means to operate said second retaining means to withdraw filament for a second knot in the other end portion of said loop and to sever said excess filament, said knot forming mechanism forming a knot in said other end portion as said retaining means returns said filament to said knot forming mechanism, and means to operate said filament retracting mechanism to retract said excess filament from said supply, said program device operating to return the material support to first position and stop operation of the machine at the end of the cycle.

11. A machine for attaching a filament to material by passing a portion of a filament through said material and forming a knot comprising filament engaging means to pass said filament through said material, a guide adjacent the path of said means to guide said filament after passage through said material, a filament retainer engageable with said filament after passing said guide to retain said filament in engagement with said guide, a knot forming element comprising a rotating member having a projecting portion engageable with said filament to wind said filament about said portion, said element including a filament holding means for holding said filament after winding about said portion, and a member movable along said portion to remove said winding from the end of said portion, so that a knot is formed in said filament in the portion past said material.

12. A machine for attaching a filament to material by passing a portion of a filament through said material and forming a knot therein, comprising filament engaging means to pass said filament through said material, a guide adjacent the path of said means to guide said filament after passage through said material, a filament retainer engageable with said filament after passing said guide to retain said filament in engagement with said guide and to withdraw said filament to provide for formation of a knot, a knot forming element comprising a rotating member having a radial projecting portion engageable with said filament adjacent said guide to wind said filament about said portion, said retainer moving toward said knot forming mechanism to feed the filament to form said knot, said projecting portion having a movable jaw which opens to pass said guide and filament after said filament is wound on said portion, said jaw closing to grip said filament and said rotating element including relatively movable elements to remove the convolutions on said projecting portion to form a knot in said filament.

13. In a knot forming mechanism for forming a knot in a filament, a rotating element comprising two relatively movable members, one of said members having a filament receiving portion about which said filament is Wound as said element rotates, said portion including filamentgripping means to receive and grip said filament after winding of said filament on said portion, said other member closely contacting said filament-receiving portion doing relative movement ofsaid two members to remove the convolutions of said filament wound on said portion and to form a knot in said filament as said element rotates.

14. In a knot forming mechanism for forming a knot in a filament, a rotating element comprising two relatively movable members, one of said members having a radially extending filament-receiving portion about which said filament is wound as said element rotates, said portion being formed with means to receive and grip said filament after winding on said portion, the other of said members closely engaging said portion doing relative movement of said members to remove the convolutions of said filament from said portion in order to form said knot, one of said two members being mounted on the other for relative radial movement.

15. In a knot forming mechanism for forming a knot in a filament, a rotating element comprising a rotating body, and a movable member mounted on said body for movement radially of and rotation with said body, said movable member having a radially extending portion composed of two pivotally connected parts forming a pair of separable jaws, said filament being wound on said radially extending portion as said element rotates and said jaws being operable to open and grip said filament after said filament is wound on said portion, said rotating body being formed to closely engage said radially extending portion to remove the convolutions of said filament from said radially extending portion and form said knot when said movable member moves radially of said body.

16. In a knot forming mechanism for forming a knot in a filament, a rotating element comprising a rotating body having a radially extending filament-receiving portion about which said filament is wound as said element rotates, said portion being composed of two parts one integral with said body and the other part pivoted to said body so that said two parts form a pair of separable jaws,

said other part being operable to open said jaws to receive and grip said filament after said filament is wound on said portion, and a radially movable member mounted on and rotatable with said body and closely engaging said radially extending portion to remove the convolutions of said filament from said radially extending portion and form a knot in said filament.

17. In a machine of the character described, filament carrying mechanism having a filament supply and filament engaging means to pass filament from said supply through material, means to draw said filament through said material from said supply after passing through said material and to sever said filament from said supply, thereby leaving an excess length of filament from said supply, and filament retracting means in engagement with said filament between said supply and said filament engaging means to draw said filament in the reverse direction through said material to remove said excess length from said material.

18. A filament retaining mechanism comprising a filament engaging member, a slidable member on said filament engaging member having a filament engaging portion to grip a filament between said portion and said filament engaging member, a spring moving said slidable member into filament gripping position, and a cutting edge on said slidable member operable to sever a portion of a filament in engagement with said filament engaging member on movement of said slidable member into filament gripping position.

19. A filament retaining mechanism as claimed in claim 18, and a latch on one of said members engageable with the other member to hold said slidable member against movement by said spring to filament gripping position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,855,541 4/1932 Bankin 28918 2,234,190 3/1941 Noling 2891.5 2,274,525 2/1942 Bunn 2895 2,872,231 2/1959 Litz 289-18 2,879,095 3/1959 Altenweger 2891.5

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT R. MACKEY, Examiner.

L. K. RIMRODT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR ATTACHING A LOOP OF A FILAMENT TO MATERIAL BY PASSING PORTIONS OF A FILAMENT CONSTITUTING THE END PORTIONS OF SAID LOOP THROUGH SAID MATERIAL COMPRISING MEANS FOR PASSING A FIRST PORTION OF SAID FILAMENT CONSTITUTING THE FIRST END PORTION OF SAID LOOP THROUGH SAID MATERIAL AT A FIRST POINT AND A SECOND PORTION OF SAID FILAMENT CONSTITUTING THE SECOND END PORTION OF SAID LOOP THROUGH SAID MATERIAL AT A SECOND POINT SPACED THE LENGTH OF SAID LOOP FROM SAID FIRST POINT, RETAINING MEANS TO RETAIN SAID PORTIONS AFTER PASSING THROUGH SAID MATERIAL, AND KNOT FORMING MEANS TO FORM A FIRST KNOT IN SAID FIRST END PORTION ADJACENT SAID FIRST POINT AND A SECOND KNOT IN SAID SECOND END PORTION SPACED FROM SAID FIRST KNOT AND ADJACENT SAID SECOND POINT. 